Question 1

What benefit do PACs offer congressional candidates?

Accepted Answer

A)  Candidates are able to raise larger sums of money. 
B)  Candidates are able to show support for organizations without explicitly stating their connection. 
C)  They ensure additional votes. 
D)  It is a way for candidates to get around tax codes. 
E)  They provide a larger base of supporters. 
A)  Candidates are able to raise larger sums of money. 
B)  Candidates are able to show support for organizations without explicitly stating their connection. 
C)  They ensure additional votes. 
D)  It is a way for candidates to get around tax codes. 
E)  They provide a larger base of supporters. A

Question 2

How do new-style national policy groups, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association, attract and hold members?

Accepted Answer

New-style national policy groups, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association (NRA), employ a variety of strategies to attract and hold members. These strategies are designed to engage individuals who share common interests or concerns related to the organization's mission. Here are some of the key methods these groups use:

1. Advocacy and Lobbying: Both organizations are active in advocating for policies that align with their missions. The Sierra Club promotes environmental conservation and clean energy policies, while the NRA focuses on protecting Second Amendment rights. By actively engaging in political advocacy, these groups attract members who are passionate about these issues and want to support efforts to influence public policy.

2. Education and Information: Providing valuable information and education on relevant topics is a cornerstone for these groups. They offer resources, articles, research, and expert opinions that keep members informed about the latest developments in their areas of interest. This continuous flow of information helps to maintain member engagement and loyalty.

3. Community and Networking: Creating a sense of community among members is crucial. Both the Sierra Club and the NRA organize local chapters, events, and meet-ups that allow members to connect with like-minded individuals. This networking opportunity can be a strong incentive for individuals to join and stay with the organization.

4. Member Benefits: Offering exclusive benefits to members can be a significant draw. These benefits might include discounts on products and services, access to special events, magazines or newsletters, and opportunities for training or certifications. For example, the NRA offers firearm safety courses, while the Sierra Club organizes guided outdoor trips.

5. Emotional Appeal: These organizations often use emotional narratives and messaging to resonate with potential members. By highlighting the importance and urgency of their causes, they can inspire individuals to join and become active participants in the movement.

6. Grassroots Mobilization: Both groups are known for their strong grassroots efforts, mobilizing members to take action on local and national issues. This can include organizing rallies, petition drives, and letter-writing campaigns. Members who feel they can make a real difference through their actions are more likely to remain engaged with the organization.

7. Social Media and Online Presence: In the digital age, having a strong online presence is essential. These policy groups use social media platforms to reach a wider audience, share their message, and interact with members and non-members alike. They also use digital tools for fundraising and organizing virtual events, which can attract a younger demographic.

8. Fundraising and Merchandising: Selling branded merchandise and conducting fundraising campaigns can both generate revenue and increase member attachment to the group. Members often take pride in displaying their affiliation with an organization through apparel, stickers, or other merchandise.

By combining these strategies, new-style national policy groups like the Sierra Club and the NRA can not only attract members but also create a loyal base that is willing to support the organization's goals over the long term.

Question 3

How do Super PACs differ from traditional PACs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Contributions to them are tax-deductible. 
B)  They can directly fund specific candidates and parties. 
C)  They may not contribute directly to parties or candidates. 
D)  They pay a fee to the government in return for loose regulations on their activities. 
E)  They do not fund television and radio commercials. 
A)  Contributions to them are tax-deductible. 
B)  They can directly fund specific candidates and parties. 
C)  They may not contribute directly to parties or candidates. 
D)  They pay a fee to the government in return for loose regulations on their activities. 
E)  They do not fund television and radio commercials. C

Question 4

The AARP distributes lists of each politician's vote on key issues in order to

Accepted Answer

A)  keep its members informed of the direction of policy in Congress. 
B)  influence lawmakers' votes. 
C)  coerce its member to vote a certain way. 
D)  dominate the election with its members' votes. 
E)  make its own policy positions public. 
A)  keep its members informed of the direction of policy in Congress. 
B)  influence lawmakers' votes. 
C)  coerce its member to vote a certain way. 
D)  dominate the election with its members' votes. 
E)  make its own policy positions public.

Question 5

A concern many people have about American political debates is that the

Accepted Answer

A)  free-market economy gives an unfair disadvantage to large corporations. 
B)  people do not have the opportunity for sufficient political participation. 
C)  poor have more interest groups to lobby in their favor. 
D)  upper class is unduly burdened. 
E)  voices of rich interest groups outweigh those of the poor. 
A)  free-market economy gives an unfair disadvantage to large corporations. 
B)  people do not have the opportunity for sufficient political participation. 
C)  poor have more interest groups to lobby in their favor. 
D)  upper class is unduly burdened. 
E)  voices of rich interest groups outweigh those of the poor.

Question 6

The Motion Picture Association of America is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  economic interest group. 
B)  foundation. 
C)  ideological interest group. 
D)  political action committee. 
E)  trade association. 
A)  economic interest group. 
B)  foundation. 
C)  ideological interest group. 
D)  political action committee. 
E)  trade association.

Question 7

The National Rifle Association is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  economic group. 
B)  foundation. 
C)  policy group. 
D)  professional association. 
E)  trade association. 
A)  economic group. 
B)  foundation. 
C)  policy group. 
D)  professional association. 
E)  trade association.

Question 8

A lobbyist routinely emails, telephones, and meets with a group of moderate congressmen regarding his interest group. This communication is called

Accepted Answer

A)  indirect lobbying. 
B)  direct lobbying. 
C)  blitzing. 
D)  contracting. 
E)  public interest lobbying. 
A)  indirect lobbying. 
B)  direct lobbying. 
C)  blitzing. 
D)  contracting. 
E)  public interest lobbying.

Question 9

Business and labor groups consistently direct most of their election contributions to

Accepted Answer

A)  challengers. 
B)  open seats. 
C)  incumbents. 
D)  conservative candidates. 
E)  liberal candidates. 
A)  challengers. 
B)  open seats. 
C)  incumbents. 
D)  conservative candidates. 
E)  liberal candidates.

Question 10

How do professional associations differ from trade associations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Professional associations are based on voluntary membership, whereas trade associations require certain workers to join their organizations. 
B)  Professional associations are created by acts of Congress; trade associations are created by state legislation. 
C)  Only professional associations are headquartered in Washington, D.C. 
D)  Professional associations are more costly than trade associations. 
E)  Professional associations often have the authority to impose formal discipline on their members. 
A)  Professional associations are based on voluntary membership, whereas trade associations require certain workers to join their organizations. 
B)  Professional associations are created by acts of Congress; trade associations are created by state legislation. 
C)  Only professional associations are headquartered in Washington, D.C. 
D)  Professional associations are more costly than trade associations. 
E)  Professional associations often have the authority to impose formal discipline on their members.

Question 11

Political action committees grew when

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress took steps to reform the tax code for non-profit organizations. 
B)  federal candidates began refusing contributions from corporations. 
C)  organized labor quit funding them. 
D)  the AFL-CIO began requiring its members to contribute to campaigns. 
E)  the Federal Election Campaign Act limited individual contributions. 
A)  Congress took steps to reform the tax code for non-profit organizations. 
B)  federal candidates began refusing contributions from corporations. 
C)  organized labor quit funding them. 
D)  the AFL-CIO began requiring its members to contribute to campaigns. 
E)  the Federal Election Campaign Act limited individual contributions.

Question 12

Over time many interest groups have pressed for new agencies to represent their interests. In this way interest groups have

Accepted Answer

A)  contributed to the growth of government. 
B)  increased political participation on the local level. 
C)  diminished their influence in government. 
D)  generated large sums of money for government projects. 
E)  reduced the size of government. 
A)  contributed to the growth of government. 
B)  increased political participation on the local level. 
C)  diminished their influence in government. 
D)  generated large sums of money for government projects. 
E)  reduced the size of government.

Question 13

Why are marches often ineffective forms of protest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Few people are willing to participate in marches. 
B)  Leaders of marches often fail to explain the purpose of their protest. 
C)  Marches are legal only in rural areas where there is little chance of capturing public attention. 
D)  Marches have become so routine that they no longer capture public attention. 
E)  They often turn violent, landing their leaders in jail where they cannot be effective leaders for their movements. 
A)  Few people are willing to participate in marches. 
B)  Leaders of marches often fail to explain the purpose of their protest. 
C)  Marches are legal only in rural areas where there is little chance of capturing public attention. 
D)  Marches have become so routine that they no longer capture public attention. 
E)  They often turn violent, landing their leaders in jail where they cannot be effective leaders for their movements.

Question 14

The organizational work of interest groups has become much easier today than in the nineteenth century in large part due to

Accepted Answer

A)  a decrease in special interests. 
B)  advances in communication and transportation. 
C)  increased regulations imposed by Congress. 
D)  negative attention from presidential candidates. 
E)  the growing cost of lobbyists. 
A)  a decrease in special interests. 
B)  advances in communication and transportation. 
C)  increased regulations imposed by Congress. 
D)  negative attention from presidential candidates. 
E)  the growing cost of lobbyists.

Question 15

Since the Teamsters sponsor the Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education Committee, the committee may

Accepted Answer

A)  only contribute $2,300 per candidate in each election cycle. 
B)  only give money to a policy initiative, not to an individual candidate. 
C)  only solicit money from people with connections to the Teamsters. 
D)  qualify for tax-exempt status. 
E)  solicit money from anyone who can legally donate to a campaign. 
A)  only contribute $2,300 per candidate in each election cycle. 
B)  only give money to a policy initiative, not to an individual candidate. 
C)  only solicit money from people with connections to the Teamsters. 
D)  qualify for tax-exempt status. 
E)  solicit money from anyone who can legally donate to a campaign.

Question 16

Travel discounts offered by AARP are an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a free-rider. 
B)  factions. 
C)  selective incentives. 
D)  soft money. 
E)  lobbying. 
A)  a free-rider. 
B)  factions. 
C)  selective incentives. 
D)  soft money. 
E)  lobbying.

Question 17

What challenges has organized labor faced in gaining and keeping membership?

Accepted Answer

Organized labor has faced several challe

Question 18

The development of industries led to the growth of

Accepted Answer

A)  Midwestern farms. 
B)  organized labor. 
C)  the Department of Veterans' Affairs. 
D)  the judiciary. 
E)  the President's Cabinet. 
A)  Midwestern farms. 
B)  organized labor. 
C)  the Department of Veterans' Affairs. 
D)  the judiciary. 
E)  the President's Cabinet.

Question 19

A top executive for a major defense firm has served in two previous administrations. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a breach of ethics for a former government employee. 
B)  a revolving door between the public and private sectors. 
C)  bribery. 
D)  bundling. 
E)  a high level lobbyist. 
A)  a breach of ethics for a former government employee. 
B)  a revolving door between the public and private sectors. 
C)  bribery. 
D)  bundling. 
E)  a high level lobbyist.

Question 20

How do think tanks contribute to deliberation among activists and ordinary citizens? How do their critics say these organizations detract from deliberation?

Accepted Answer

Think tanks contribute to deliberation a

What benefit do PACs offer congressional candidates?

How do new-style national policy groups, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association, attract and hold members?

How do Super PACs differ from traditional PACs?

The AARP distributes lists of each politician's vote on key issues in order to

A concern many people have about American political debates is that the

The Motion Picture Association of America is an example of a(n)

The National Rifle Association is an example of a(n)

A lobbyist routinely emails, telephones, and meets with a group of moderate congressmen regarding his interest group. This communication is called

Business and labor groups consistently direct most of their election contributions to

How do professional associations differ from trade associations?

Political action committees grew when

Over time many interest groups have pressed for new agencies to represent their interests. In this way interest groups have

Why are marches often ineffective forms of protest?

The organizational work of interest groups has become much easier today than in the nineteenth century in large part due to

Since the Teamsters sponsor the Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education Committee, the committee may

Travel discounts offered by AARP are an example of

What challenges has organized labor faced in gaining and keeping membership?

The development of industries led to the growth of

A top executive for a major defense firm has served in two previous administrations. This is an example of

How do think tanks contribute to deliberation among activists and ordinary citizens? How do their critics say these organizations detract from deliberation?

Deliberation and Citizenship in Service of Freedom and Democracy

The American Constitution

Federalism

American Citizenship and Civic Culture

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Participation

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy and the Administrative State

The Judiciary

Social Policy and the Welfare State

Economic Policy

National Security and Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 8: Interest Groups

What benefit do PACs offer congressional candidates?

How do new-style national policy groups, such as the Sierra Club or the National Rifle Association, attract and hold members?

How do Super PACs differ from traditional PACs?

The AARP distributes lists of each politician's vote on key issues in order to

A concern many people have about American political debates is that the

The Motion Picture Association of America is an example of a(n)

The National Rifle Association is an example of a(n)

A lobbyist routinely emails, telephones, and meets with a group of moderate congressmen regarding his interest group. This communication is called

Business and labor groups consistently direct most of their election contributions to

How do professional associations differ from trade associations?

Political action committees grew when

Over time many interest groups have pressed for new agencies to represent their interests. In this way interest groups have

Why are marches often ineffective forms of protest?

The organizational work of interest groups has become much easier today than in the nineteenth century in large part due to

Since the Teamsters sponsor the Democratic Republican Independent Voter Education Committee, the committee may

Travel discounts offered by AARP are an example of

What challenges has organized labor faced in gaining and keeping membership?

The development of industries led to the growth of

A top executive for a major defense firm has served in two previous administrations. This is an example of

How do think tanks contribute to deliberation among activists and ordinary citizens? How do their critics say these organizations detract from deliberation?

Deliberation and Citizenship in Service of Freedom and Democracy

The American Constitution

Federalism

American Citizenship and Civic Culture

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Participation

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy and the Administrative State

The Judiciary

Social Policy and the Welfare State

Economic Policy

National Security and Foreign Policy

Filters